title: Learning and memory in rape victims with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have shown memory deficits among combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, high rates of comorbid conditions, including alcoholism, make it difficult to definitively associate these findings with the PTSD diagnosis. In this study the authors examined memory functioning among rape survivors without alcoholism or substance abuse but with PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rape victims with (N = 15) and without (N = 16) PTSD were compared to age- and education-matched nontraumatized comparison subjects (N = 16) on measures of learning and memory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects with PTSD performed significantly worse than the other groups on delayed free recall. The deficits were ameliorated by cueing and recognition testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recall deficits in noncombat PTSD patients strengthen the theory that memory deficits are associated with the PTSD diagnosis. The deficits were mild and were not attributable to comorbid depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology Research, Department of Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, USA. Melissa_Jenkins@brown.edu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Langlais
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011939:Mental Recall; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014706:Verbal Learning